Come to meeting in June about diaconate

Published: April 25, 2025

En Español

A new class for permanent diaconate formation will begin in the fall of 2027. Men and their wives interested in learning more are invited to attend an inquiry meeting, which will be held in seven different locations across the Diocese of Little Rock in June.

Meetings will be held in English at 6 p.m. and in Spanish at 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• June 12 — St. Raphael Church, Springdale
• June 13 — St. Augustine Church, Dardanelle
• June 14 — Christ the King Church, Fort Smith
• June 19 — Blessed Sacrament Church, Jonesboro
• June 20 — St. Edward Church, Little Rock
• June 25 — Holy Spirit Church, Hamburg
• June 26 — Our Lady of Hope Church, Hope

Reservations are not required. Discernment applications will be handed out during the inquiry meetings, with discernment groups forming in the fall of 2026.

The five-year program will equip the men spiritually, academically and pastorally to serve the Church as deacons. A candidate must be a man in good standing with the Church. He should be at least 35 years old by the ordination date in June 2033. The support of wives is essential, as they will walk alongside their husbands in the formation process.

For the first time, the Diocese of Little Rock will have overlapping diaconate formation programs. The current class will end in May 2028. They are scheduled to be ordained in June 2028.

For more information, or if you cannot attend a meeting but are interested, please call or email Father Ruben Quinteros, director, Deacon Marcelino Luna, assistant director, Deacon Mark Verkamp, assistant director, or Jasmine Hogan, administrative assistant, in the Diaconate Formation Office at (501) 664-0340.